Bobo likes new point of view

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Mike Bobo’s vantage point of Georgia’s most productive offensive game in four weeks came from field level instead of in the coaches’ box high up in Vanderbilt Stadium.

After the Bulldogs were held to three points on offense in a blowout loss at Tennessee, Georgia’s offensive coordinator moved down to the sideline for the first time since he was quarterbacks coach at Jacksonville State in 2000.

“I tried to get a feel for our football team,” Bobo said after Georgia’s 34-10 win over Vanderbilt. “Really, just look in their eyes and call the play and try to get some belief and some confidence.”

Bobo wanted the offensive players to play with more passion “and let them know that `Hey we’re behind you. Let’s go and keep grinding away no matter what happens.'”

Bobo asked coach Mark Richt during the week if he would have a problem with Bobo moving downstairs for the game. Richt told him if he didn’t like the move he could go back up in the second half.

“He wanted to help light the fire,” Richt said. “I think it was very good today. He definitely had a lot of energy and spirit.”

Quarterback Joe Cox said it wasn’t just for the offense.

“He just wanted energy,” Cox said. “He’s a competitive guy. He hates losing. He wants people to be jacked up when we make plays. Both sides of the ball. Even when the defense was out there, he was going nuts. We need coaches like that on the sidelines, too, not just players.”

Georgia’s offense had scored touchdowns in only one of the previous 11 quarters, but finished with 399 total yards and 34 points, the most given up by Vanderbilt this season.

All with Bobo on the field.

“It was a little different, but you could hear Mike over the headset on the sideline and he was an inspiration down on the sideline,” said receivers coach Tony Ball, who was joined by linebackers coach John Jancek and graduate assistants in the coaches’ box. “That might have been the right place for him down there today because he did a great job of keeping the players tuned in and excited about playing.”

Ball said he provided information from what he saw from up above that Bobo used to help make his play calls.

The Bulldogs started slow Saturday, but finished strong.

Georgia mustered just three total yards on its first three possessions before A.J. Green took a short pass 65 yards for a touchdown to get Georgia’s offense going.

“I thought we did a nice job of just staying patient,” Bobo said.

Vanderbilt doubled up on Georgia receivers, but Bobo wanted to stay committed to the run.

“I thought we got a little bit of an edge in the second half,” Bobo said. “I thought the backs ran hard and broke tackles, which was good to see. It was good to see guys get yards after contact. They were hungry and I thought you could feel they were about to break through.”

The Bulldogs got their running game going.

Georgia was last in the SEC at 97.2 yards per game, but finished with 173 rushing yards, its most since 188 against LSU on Oct. 25 of last season. The Bulldogs had 120 rushing yards in the fourth quarter.

Bobo said he probably will remain on the field instead of in the box when Georgia plays Florida on Oct. 31 in Jacksonville. “I like having him on the sideline where I can go right up to him right after a drive and talk to him,” Cox said. “I don’t know if he’s going to keep doing it. It wouldn’t bother me either way. I do think it brought some more energy just him being down there.”